Updated September 2026
Best On-Campus EdD Programs: 10 Top Picks for 2026
These 10 EdD (Doctor of Education) programs meet in person on campus. We checked every schedule, length and price on each school’s website.
The best on-campus EdD programs for working educators include Vanderbilt University, Teachers College at Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania. Most meet on evenings or weekends and take about three years. At Vanderbilt, the top school in our ranking, classes meet on Friday evenings and Saturdays during set weekends for 36 months.
Key facts
- Vanderbilt’s weekend EdD starts each May with a cohort of about 20 to 25 students. Tuition is $44,856 for one Ed.D. year (2026–27).
- UNC Chapel Hill meets one evening a week. North Carolina residents pay $598 per credit, up to $5,382 a semester (2026–27).
- New graduate students can no longer borrow Grad PLUS loans as of July 1, 2026. Direct Unsubsidized Loans still top out at $20,500 a year.
The 10 Best On-Campus EdD Programs
Every program on this list asks you to come to campus often, usually on evenings or weekends. Each one is taking applications for a 2026–27 or 2027 start. We ordered them by our overall school ranking. See how we chose.
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN |
| 2 | Teachers College, Columbia University | New York, NY |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA |
| 4 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC |
| 6 | University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| 7 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX |
| 9 | University of Washington | Seattle, WA |
| 10 | University of California, Davis | Davis, CA |
Program Profiles
1. Vanderbilt University: EdD in K-12 or Higher Education Leadership and Policy
Peabody College, in Nashville, runs a weekend EdD for leaders in K-12 schools or higher education. Classes meet in person on Friday evenings and Saturdays during set weekends. You start in May with a cohort of about 20 to 25 students from around the country. The degree ends with a year-long capstone project. Vanderbilt’s online EdD in Leadership and Learning in Organizations is a separate program.
- Schedule: in person on Friday evenings and Saturdays during set weekends
- Length: 3 years (36 months); starts in May
- Credits: 54, plus 30 credits that transfer in from your master’s degree (84 in total)
- Final project: year-long capstone project
- Admission: a master’s degree, since 30 of its credits count toward the EdD. There is no application fee. Applications for 2027–28 are open.
- Cost: $2,492 per credit (2026–27). One Ed.D. year is $44,856 in tuition, or $46,532 with fees. Tuition for 54 credits is about $134,568.
2. Teachers College, Columbia University: Urban Education Leaders Program EdD
Teachers College, in New York City, built this EdD for experienced leaders in city schools. You spend two weeks on campus each July, Monday through Friday. In the fall and spring, you meet one Friday and Saturday each month. The program admits about 15 students every other year. The next group starts in summer 2027.
- Schedule: two weeks in July (Monday to Friday), plus one weekend a month in fall and spring
- Length: about 4 years (3 years of classes, then the dissertation)
- Credits: 75 points (Teachers College calls its credits “points”)
- Final project: dissertation and defense
- Admission: 8 to 12 years of combined teaching and leadership experience; GRE optional. Apply by December 1, 2026, for summer 2027.
- Cost: $2,216 per point (2026–27), or about $166,200 for 75 points
Teachers College also offers an EdD in Executive Leadership. Ask the school about its schedule. Teachers College program page
3. University of Pennsylvania: Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership
Penn’s Graduate School of Education, in Philadelphia, runs this EdD for leaders in the middle of their careers. You come to campus for one Friday-to-Sunday weekend each month and a summer residency each year. Online work continues between visits. Your dissertation is built into the courses, so you finish in three years. Hotel and dining costs are part of the program fees.
- Schedule: one campus weekend a month (Friday to Sunday), a summer residency each year and online work between sessions
- Length: 3 years (36 months)
- Credits: not listed on the program page
- Final project: dissertation, built into the courses
- Admission: master’s degree; at least 3 years of leadership experience recommended; no GRE. You start in summer, and the deadline is February 1.
- Cost: In years 1 and 2, each term costs $17,033 in tuition plus $9,172 in program, hotel and dining fees. In year 3, each term costs $10,393 plus $5,596. At these Summer 2026 to Spring 2027 rates, the total is about $205,197.
- Scholarships: Penn considers every applicant for Empowerment Scholarships of up to $60,000.
Penn also offers an Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management and a Chief Learning Officer EdD. Penn Mid-Career EdD program page
4. UC Berkeley: Leaders for Equity and Democracy (LEAD) EdD
Berkeley’s LEAD program is a three-year EdD that is mostly in person. Each year includes a four-week summer session, four days a week. During the school year, you attend 20 all-day weekend sessions. Berkeley admits a small cohort of 10 to 12 students every other year. The next group starts classes in July 2027.
- Schedule: a four-week summer session (four days a week), plus 20 all-day weekend sessions a year (14 Saturdays and 6 Fridays)
- Length: 3 years
- Credits: not listed on the program page
- Final project: dissertation
- Admission: a master’s degree by the time you enroll. The next application cycle opens September 24, 2026.
- Cost: $17,067.75 per semester for new California residents and $23,190.25 for nonresidents (2026–27). This includes a $4,000 professional degree fee.
5. UNC Chapel Hill: EdD in Educational Leadership, K-12 Leadership
UNC’s School of Education offers a part-time EdD for people who lead K-12 schools. Classes meet in person, usually one evening a week. You move through the program with a cohort and finish in three years. The program ends with a dissertation in practice, a research project on a real problem at work. North Carolina residents pay the lowest per-credit rate on our list.
- Schedule: in-person evening classes, usually one night a week
- Length: 3 years, part-time
- Credits: 54
- Final project: dissertation in practice
- Admission: a master’s degree in education or a related field. Apply by December 15, 2026, for fall 2027.
- Cost: $598 per credit for North Carolina residents, up to $5,382 a semester. Nonresidents pay $1,634.50 per credit, up to $14,710.50 a semester (2026–27).
6. UCLA: Educational Leadership Program (ELP) EdD
UCLA’s Educational Leadership Program is for education leaders who keep working. Classes meet on Thursday evenings and Saturdays. Each cohort has 24 to 30 students, so you build a large network. The three years include the dissertation. You need at least five years of full-time work experience to apply.
- Schedule: Thursday evening and Saturday classes
- Length: 3 years, including the dissertation
- Credits: not listed on the program page
- Final project: dissertation
- Admission: at least 5 years of full-time work experience; no GRE. Apply by February 2, 2027, for fall 2027.
- Cost: $30,394 a year for new students and $28,947 for continuing students (2026–27). ELP sets its own fees, apart from regular UCLA tuition.
7. University of Southern California: EdD in Educational Leadership (On Campus)
USC’s Rossier School of Education, in Los Angeles, offers this EdD on campus and online. On-campus students pick one evening a week to attend class. With a master’s degree, you take 43 units and can finish in three years full-time. Part-time students take four to five years. The program ends with a dissertation in practice.
- Schedule: one evening a week on campus (you choose the evening)
- Length: 3 years full-time; 4 to 5 years part-time
- Credits: 43 units with a master’s degree (60 units with a bachelor’s degree)
- Final project: dissertation in practice
- Admission: a master’s degree for the 43-unit path. Classes start in August 2027, and the priority deadline is December 1, 2026.
- Cost: $2,539 per unit (2026–27), or about $109,177 for 43 units. USC expects rates to rise about 3–5% a year.
8. The University of Texas at Austin: Executive EdD in Higher Education Leadership
UT Austin’s Executive EdD is for people who lead colleges and universities. You meet on campus every other Friday and Saturday, for 18 weekends each year. Some parts of the program are online. It takes 30 to 36 months and ends with a treatise in practice. UT posts one total price for the whole program, which makes planning easier.
- Schedule: 18 weekends a year, every other Friday and Saturday, on campus (some online parts)
- Length: 30 to 36 months
- Credits: 60 hours
- Final project: treatise in practice
- Admission: master’s degree; no GRE. Classes start in summer 2027. The priority deadline is December 1, and the final deadline is January 15.
- Cost: $80,400 in total for the 2027 cohort. That is $1,195 per credit hour plus program fees.
9. University of Washington: Leadership for Learning (L4L) EdD
UW’s Leadership for Learning EdD meets on the Seattle campus one weekend a month, on Friday and Saturday. Each summer, you also come to campus for three to five days. The program takes three years, part-time, and includes a 360-hour internship. UW starts a new cohort only every three years. The next one begins in July 2027.
- Schedule: one Friday-and-Saturday weekend a month during the school year, plus three to five days each summer
- Length: 3 years, part-time
- Credits: 97
- Final project: not named on the program page; the program includes a 360-hour internship
- Admission: a master’s degree, which can still be in progress. Apply by February 1, 2027.
- Cost: $625 per credit for the 2024–27 cohort, or about $60,710 in total. UW will set the rate for the 2027 cohort in June 2027.
10. UC Davis: CANDEL EdD in Educational Leadership
UC Davis’s CANDEL program meets all day on Friday and Saturday on campus, about every two to three weeks. That adds up to about 18 class weekends a year. You finish courses in two years and then write your dissertation. Most students finish in three to five years. A new cohort starts every September.
- Schedule: all day Friday and Saturday on campus, about every two to three weeks
- Length: most students finish in 3 to 5 years (2 years of courses, then the dissertation)
- Credits: 72 units of coursework
- Final project: dissertation
- Admission: a bachelor’s and a master’s degree; no GRE. You also need a letter from your employer that approves an absence every third Friday. Apply by February 1, 2027, for September 2027.
- Cost: about $20,484 a year for California residents in 2026–27, based on UC’s posted fees. That includes $13,722 in tuition, a $1,344 student services fee and a $5,418 CANDEL program fee. Campus fees and health insurance are extra.
Compare the 10 Programs at a Glance
Schools charge in different ways: per credit, per term or per year. Totals marked “about” are our math from each school’s posted rates. Fees, books and travel are usually extra.
| School | Schedule | Length | Credits | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt | Friday evenings and Saturdays on set weekends | 3 years | 54 (plus 30 transfer) | $2,492 per credit (2026–27) |
| Teachers College | Two weeks in July; one weekend a month | About 4 years | 75 points | $2,216 per point (2026–27) |
| Penn | One weekend a month; summer residency | 3 years | Not listed | About $205,197 with fees (2026–27 rates) |
| UC Berkeley | Four-week summer session; 20 weekend days a year | 3 years | Not listed | $17,067.75 per semester, California resident (2026–27) |
| UNC Chapel Hill | One evening a week | 3 years | 54 | $598 per credit, North Carolina resident (2026–27) |
| UCLA | Thursday evenings and Saturdays | 3 years | Not listed | $30,394 a year, new students (2026–27) |
| USC | One evening a week | 3 years full-time | 43 units | $2,539 per unit (2026–27) |
| UT Austin | Every other Friday and Saturday | 30–36 months | 60 hours | $80,400 total (2027 cohort) |
| UW | One weekend a month; summer days | 3 years | 97 | About $60,710 total (2024–27 rate) |
| UC Davis | Friday and Saturday every two to three weeks | 3–5 years | 72 units | About $20,484 a year, California resident (2026–27) |
What On-Campus Means for an EdD
Most on-campus EdD programs are built for people who keep their jobs. You go to class at set times, but those times fit around a work week. The programs on our list use four main schedules:
- Evening classes: UNC and USC meet one evening a week. UCLA meets on Thursday evenings and Saturdays.
- Weekend cohorts: Vanderbilt, Penn, UT Austin, UW and UC Davis meet on set weekends. Most sessions run on Friday and Saturday.
- Summer sessions: Teachers College, Berkeley and UW add longer blocks in the summer. They last from a few days to four weeks. Penn adds a summer residency.
- Full-time study: Some EdDs ask you to leave your job for a while. None of the 10 programs on our list require that.
We did not count programs with only one or two short campus visits a year. Those are online programs. If you live far from campus, add travel and hotel costs to your budget. Penn is one exception, because its program fees include hotel and dining.
Who Each Program Fits
- K-12 school and district leaders: UNC’s K-12 Leadership program, Vanderbilt’s K-12 track and Teachers College’s Urban Education Leaders Program. Future Texas superintendents can also look at UT Austin’s Cooperative Superintendency Program.
- College and university leaders: UT Austin’s Executive EdD in Higher Education Leadership, Vanderbilt’s Higher Education track and Penn’s Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management.
- Policy and equity: Vanderbilt’s program is in Leadership and Policy. Berkeley’s LEAD program centers on equity and democracy in schools.
- Leaders in many kinds of settings: Penn’s Mid-Career program, UCLA’s ELP, USC Rossier, UW’s Leadership for Learning and UC Davis’s CANDEL program.
UT Austin’s Cooperative Superintendency Program has stricter entry rules. You need a mid-management certificate and 2 years as a principal or central office leader. It also requires the GRE.
How We Chose These Programs
We started with every school named in the top Google results for “best EdD programs.” Then we kept only programs that meet three rules:
- Regular time on campus: The program is fully on campus, meets on campus at least once a month during terms, or has scheduled campus weekends.
- Admitting now: The school is taking applications for a 2026–27 or 2027 start.
- Open to working professionals: You can apply with a master’s degree.
Next, we ordered the programs by our overall school ranking. That ranking uses U.S. Department of Education data on graduation rates, retention rates, graduate earnings and cost. We checked every program detail on each school’s website in September 2026.
Some well-known programs are not on the list this year:
- Harvard: Harvard has paused applications to its Ed.L.D. program while it redesigns the degree.
- University of Virginia: The EdD in administration and supervision meets on Saturdays each month. However, it admits every other year, and the next start is summer 2028.
- University of Florida: The hybrid EdD in higher education starts its next cohort in January 2028.
- University of Georgia: The next Executive EdD in Higher Education Management begins in January 2028.
Texas A&M was next in line. Its EdD in PK-12 educational leadership meets face-to-face on Saturdays. It fits Texas school leaders who hold a principal certificate and want a Saturday schedule.
Paying for an On-Campus EdD in 2026
Costs on our list vary widely. North Carolina residents at UNC pay $598 per credit. At Penn, tuition and fees come to about $205,197 at 2026–27 rates. Public schools such as UNC and Berkeley charge state residents less than students from other states.
Federal student loan rules changed on July 1, 2026. New graduate students can no longer borrow Grad PLUS loans. You can still borrow up to $20,500 a year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Total federal borrowing for graduate school is capped at $100,000, and the lifetime cap is $257,500.
For many programs, federal loans will not cover the full cost. For example, $20,500 is less than half of one Ed.D. year of tuition at Vanderbilt ($44,856). If you borrowed before July 1, 2026, the old limits may still apply for a short time. Ask your financial aid office. For details, see the U.S. Department of Education’s loan limit charts.
Look for other help, too:
- School scholarships: Penn considers every Mid-Career applicant for Empowerment Scholarships of up to $60,000. Ask each school what aid it offers EdD students.
- Employer help: Ask your district or employer about tuition help. Talk to your employer early about time off, too. UC Davis requires a letter that approves your Friday absences.
- Loan forgiveness: If you work for a public school, a public college or a nonprofit, you may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
For lower prices, see our guide to the cheapest online EdD programs.
On-Campus vs. Online EdD
Both formats lead to the same degree. The main difference is how you spend your time.
| Question | On campus | Online |
|---|---|---|
| When do you meet? | Set evenings or weekends | Mostly on your own time, with some live classes |
| How often are you on campus? | Every week, every month or in summer blocks | Never, or one or two short visits a year |
| Where can you live? | Within driving distance, or near an airport | Almost anywhere |
| How do you meet classmates? | In person, often | Mostly on video calls |
| What extra costs come up? | Travel, parking and hotels | Technology fees at some schools |
If you cannot travel often, see our ranking of the best online EdD programs. If speed matters most, see our list of accelerated online EdD programs.
Terms to Know
- EdD (Doctor of Education): A doctorate for people who lead schools, colleges and other learning groups.
- Cohort: A group of students who start the program together and take courses as a group.
- Executive EdD: An EdD for senior leaders, often with weekend classes.
- Residency: A required stay on campus that lasts a few days or longer.
- Dissertation in practice: A doctoral research project that studies a real problem at work and suggests a fix.
- Capstone or treatise: Other names for a final research project. Vanderbilt uses a capstone, and UT Austin uses a treatise.
- Credits, units and points: Different names schools use for the same thing: the amount of coursework you complete.
- Grad PLUS loan: A federal loan for graduate students. It closed to new graduate borrowers on July 1, 2026.
Explore More EdD Guides
- Best online EdD programs ranked by school quality
- Accelerated online EdD programs you can finish faster
- Cheapest online EdD programs for a smaller budget
- EdD programs that do not require the GRE
- Online EdD programs without a dissertation that end with a capstone or dossier
- One-year doctorate options and what they require
- EdD salaries and careers
On-Campus EdD FAQ
What are the top EdD programs in the US?
For on-campus study, Vanderbilt, Teachers College at Columbia and Penn lead our list. Berkeley, UNC Chapel Hill and UCLA come next. We order programs by our overall school ranking and check each schedule and price. For online options, see our best online EdD programs.
What is the fastest on-campus EdD?
On our list, UT Austin’s Executive EdD is the shortest at 30 to 36 months. Most others take three years. Some online programs are shorter. See our guide to accelerated online EdD programs.
How long does an on-campus EdD take?
Most programs on our list take about three years. Teachers College takes about four years, including the dissertation. At UC Davis, most students finish in three to five years.
Can I work full-time during an on-campus EdD?
Yes. Every program on our list meets on evenings, weekends or in summer blocks, so most students keep their jobs. Some Friday sessions need time off work. Plan for reading and writing every week, too.
Are EdD programs worth it?
An EdD can be worth it if you want to lead a school, a district or a college office. It is built for roles like principal, superintendent or dean. Compare the full cost with the jobs you want before you apply. Our EdD salary and careers guide can help.
Is an EdD or a PhD better for becoming a professor?
A PhD is usually better if you want to be a research professor. The EdD is built for leaders who solve problems in schools and colleges. Some EdD graduates teach at colleges, but research universities usually hire PhDs for faculty jobs.
Can I use Grad PLUS loans to pay for an EdD?
Not if you are a new borrower. Grad PLUS loans closed to new graduate borrowers on July 1, 2026. You can still borrow up to $20,500 a year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
Sources: Program details were checked on each university’s official website in September 2026. Costs are the rates each school posted in September 2026, with the academic year shown. Totals marked “about” are our math from posted rates. The UC Davis cost is based on the University of California’s 2026–27 fee schedule. Loan limits are from the U.S. Department of Education. School order uses our overall ranking, which is based on U.S. Department of Education data.